Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-04-23

I[w48M 0EpJ rather stirring times in
HJ1@N@ the wars that our country
tUKMAE~ has engaged in during
/kt~ that long period. Now I
IsE IN am rather battered and worse for
TWAIN, war, and have two or three old
ME wounds that need great deal of
JuFM nursing. If were q General or a
lM I'm Colonel I should be on the retired
tW6DI list; as it is, have an honorable
discharge, after more than half q
dozen enlistments, and pension
from the Government which is sufficient
for NV humble wants. My days of duty
and activity being over, the desire to tell
about what have experienced comes quite
naturally to me, and as it has become
quite the fashion lately for military men Of
high rank to put their memoirs in print, it
NAV be that q contribution from an old
cavalry sergeant would not come amiss.
] propose to tell the story Of rather re-
markabls adventure that I once had in
Northern Texas.
1t was shortly after the close of the Mexi-
can war. I was ordered from Vera Cruz
to New Orleans, and thence to Galveston,
where was directed to report to Lieuten-
ant Wilson, at the barracks. found there
sixty five soldiers, whom was ordered to
drill in the cavalry tactics. mounted and
dismounted. They were strange lot, in
deed. Half of them were raw recruits
who had never mounted horse or handled
o carbine, and who had been stopped at
this point on their way to the trent by he
news of the armistice. They had been
mainly picked up by the recruiting officers
in the cities, and after looking them over, I
concluded that they were not likely to be
Of great value to the army. The other half
ofthe detachment was still worse. To speak
plainly, they were shirks, desertefs, and
malingerers, whose records Of unfeithfd
service and punishment had been sent here
with them. And it was this set Of fellows
that the Lieutenant informed me was OK.
pected to put into shape with all speed for
some kind of important service. Twas too
old soldier to grumbae. and went at the
distasteful duty with % much zeal as was
possible. In q month / ives able to report
10 the Lieutenant that tie detachment was
tolsrsbly schooled; and after inspecting it
and Witnessing one OF my drills, he said
that he thought he might report it it for
duty.
Our orders came ton days later. The
men were merely told to be ready to move
ut q moments notice; but to me the Lieu
tenant impaired the inst1uctions he had
4sceived-or part Of them. We were to
embark on . steamboat large enough 10
transport the whole detachment, horses and
ell, three large army wagons, and an am
bulance. Entering the Brazos River IL
being the spring of the year, and high
water), we were to ascend it some three
hundred miles, to the head Of navigation,
then djssmbark, and take the route for
fort which was situated well up toward the
Indian Territory.
~To take them supplies, sir, suppose"
] remarked to the L&eutsnapt He said
@Yes;" but he said it in such way q to
make me surmise that this was not the
whole object Of the long journey. OF
course, I wanted to know all about Il; but
. proper military subordination told me to
hold my tongue, and wait till the time came
for me to know.
1t came soon enoughl
The day before We embarked on the
steamer the Lieutenant had final muster
end inspection of his command. The mem
had received new uniforms, and looked
very smart as they were drawn up II lme.
After inspection, the Lis1tenank made them
q little speech. He was Q vegy hand
some officer. Liextenant George Wilson,
about thirty years old, and Is straight as an
arrow. He had not served in Mexico, but
he had seen great deal of Indian fighting,
which supposed 70 be the reason dat IS
Vas assigned 60 command Thu expedition.
He told tae men that they Wers going 10
guard Q convoy It supplies and sterss to
Tort near the north line e - 6tets. He
perilous or fatiguing; but Z II proved 10 b
both, il must Be done with he 1tmost adsa-
fly. BE know the country and understood
Ais orders. and everything possible would
be done for the comfort and safety Of ne
command: but enc thing he should N